Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

South Africa court rules anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, Hamas salutes

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Feb 2022 15:44
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Though a Zionist organization tried to accuse an official of making anti-Semitic remarks, the Constitutional Court of South Africa disagrees, and rules that anti-Zionism is simply not anti-Semitism.

  • x
  • Protesters in South Africa demonstrate against Israel's treatment of Palestinians on 2 June 2018 (Twitter)
    Protesters in South Africa demonstrate against Israel's treatment of Palestinians on 2 June 2018 (Twitter)

The Head of the Hamas International Relations Office, Moussa Abu Marzouk, welcomed the South African court ruling that "Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism."

Abu Marzouk said in the statement: "We welcome the historic decision of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, which affirms that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, and that criticism of Zionism is not a criticism of Jews."

He added that the decision "constitutes legal support and political support for opponents of the Zionist occupation of our occupied Palestinian lands after the occupation spent decades blackmailing countries and forces rejecting it, linking any criticism of it to anti-Semitism."

Abu Marzouk explained that "the judicial decision in South Africa represents a strong momentum and incentive for the rest of the judicial authorities around the world to issue legal rulings and take similar judicial steps." 

"These decisions would tighten the screws on the Zionist occupation, which seeks to prevent the Palestinian people from exercising their right to self-determination, liberation, and return," as decided by international laws and United Nations reports, he highlighted.

He also stressed that "the occupation continues to violate international law, the Geneva Conventions, and the charters of the United Nations, and it continues to practice intimidation against countries that reject its continued presence on Palestinian territories."

Related News

Colombia taps anti-'Israel' rabbi for religious affairs

Amsterdam events anti-Zionist not antisemitic: Israeli think tank head

A lost court case

The Constitutional Court of South Africa made the ruling based on a case brought by the South African Human Rights Commission on the behalf of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (an organization that has close ties with "Israel"), against comments made in 2009 by former Secretary of International Relations of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Bongani Masuku.

Out of the four comments studied in court which were allegedly "anti-Semitic," only one met the criteria to be considered "hate speech." Therefore, Masuku was found not guilty. 

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign revealed that the statements the court ruled did not constitute hate speech or anti-Semitism: "COSATU has got members here even on this campus. We can make sure that for that side it will be hell," referring to COSATU's intentions were regarding those who support "Israel." 

Palestine Solidarity Campaign on yesterday's Constitutional Court Judgement. Anti-zionism is not anti-Semitism pic.twitter.com/mqazb64gdV

— na'eem jeenah (@NaeemJeenah) February 17, 2022

The second statement is, "The following things are going to apply: any South African family, I want to repeat it so that it is clear for everyone, any South African family who sends its son or daughter to be part of the 'Israel' Defense Force must not blame us when something happens to them with immediate effect." 

The third statement is, "COSATU is with you, we will do everything to make sure that whether it's at Wits, whether it's at Orange Grove, anyone who does not support equality and dignity, who does not support the rights of other people must face the consequences even if it means that we will do something that may necessarily cause what is regarded as harm."

"They are not the same thing," said the Constitutional Court, pointing at the differences between Judaism and Zionism. The statements, as found, were "clearly aimed at 'Israel' and those who support 'Israel'," and not at Jewish people. 

Read more: “Israel’s” weapon of choice: Anti-Semitism
  • anti-Zionism
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • South Africa
  • Hamas
  • anti-semitism
  • COSATU

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS